Love Fruit Orchard (Yuanli Township Agricultural Association) Introduction
In Europe, tomatoes are known by the nickname LOVE APPLE, as their ripe flowers bloom in pairs, linked together in a vibrant red, resembling a pair of lovers, thus earning the title of love fruit. This greenhouse mainly cultivates love fruits, hence the name "Love Fruit Orchard," with the hope that such a romantic name can bring visitors a sense of romance and memorable experiences when promoting the orchard. The greenhouse used in Love Fruit Orchard is specially selected from many types due to the seasonal variations in Taiwan. In summer, traditional greenhouses tend to accumulate heat, which can make fruiting difficult for crops cultivated indoors, especially for tomatoes. Thus, during the selection of the greenhouse structure, an easily cool and ventilated design was sought, and a retractable roof structure was chosen. The roof is designed to roll up to the center underneath the main building, so when it is retracted, only a fine mesh remains above, preventing heat from accumulating inside. Therefore, the temperature difference between inside and outside remains about two degrees. Additionally, exhaust fans were installed to promptly control the temperature in case of poor internal heat circulation. At the initial design phase of Love Fruit Orchard, it was the first attempt at greenhouse cultivation, aiming to uphold organic farming principles. However, it was discovered that while the greenhouse environment can isolate many pests, it does not prevent the occurrence of toxic diseases, leading to significant losses in early cultivation. Fortunately, our instructor, Zheng Nianjun, has put in considerable effort in this area, frequently visiting and learning greenhouse planting techniques to enhance the cultivation experience at Love Fruit Orchard. I still remember that the first year of managing the orchard was extremely challenging, with unrefined techniques, a lack of recognition from colleagues, and having to endure criticism from representatives about setting up this unprofitable business—it was truly a double whammy. Thankfully, to this day, Love Fruit Orchard has achieved profitability, sufficient to cover the operational costs of the orchard; years of hard work have finally yielded some accomplishments. Currently, the marketing of Love Fruit Orchard's products, aside from tourism and fruit picking, includes partnerships with several organic health shops, supplying organic goods to stores in Taichung and nearby areas, as Love Fruit Orchard does not use any pesticides during the fruit-picking season. Moreover, the romantic name “Love Fruit Orchard” and the refreshing fruit picking experience have already become one of the most well-known representatives of leisure agriculture in the central region, making it an ideal spot for group outings and family activities involving multiple generations. The greenhouse cultivation and fruit-picking experience at Love Fruit Orchard have also become the best venue for agricultural experience field trips for many kindergartens and elementary schools. Everyone is welcome to come and experience it firsthand!
